Michigan hockey ranked third in preseason poll

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine released its preseason college hockey poll Monday and Michigan received considerable respect, checking in at No. 3 despite a first-round exit in last year’s NCAA Tournament and the graduation of star goaltender Shawn Hunwick.

The Wolverines garnered 408 total points, including two first-place votes. They are behind only Boston College (20 first-place votes) and Minnesota (12 first-place votes), both of which earned 476 total points.

Other CCHA teams making the list include No. 9 Miami (Ohio), No. 10 Notre Dame, No. 11 Western Michigan and No. 14 Ferris State. Cornell, which knocked off Michigan in an overtime thriller in the NCAA Tournament last season, is ranked sixth.